Press Releases

As part of National Agriculture Week, which continues through March 25, State Sen. Daisy Lawler will present a resolution on the Senate Floor Wednesday proclaiming March 22, 2006, to be Agriculture Day in the State of Oklahoma. The resolution will be heard when the Senate convenes at 1:30 p.m.
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The Oklahoma State Senate approved a resolution Wednesday thanking and recognizing the efforts of firefighters in dealing with Oklahoma’s recent drought and the resulting wildfires. Senator Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, is the principal author of SR 71. All other Senate members are coauthors of the measure.

Upper Chamber Completes Work on Senate Bills Ahead of Deadline

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan touted the accomplishments of Senate Democrats Wednesday saying that the first third of the 2006 legislative session has been a tremendous success.
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A bipartisan bill to protect property owners from abuses of government’s power of eminent domain was unanimously approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

The Oklahoma Property Owners Protection Act would prohibit any public entity from seizing private property solely for the purpose of economic development, and would require municipalities to provide relocation assistance for those who are forced to move by an eminent domain proceeding.

The full Senate has given its approval to a measure to strengthen state retirement systems. Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is author of Senate Bill 1894. While the legislation would apply to the retirement systems for teachers, public employees and judges, Mazzei said there’s a particular concern about the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (OTRS), which is only 49 percent funded.
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SB 1748 Outlaws the Sale of Cell Phone Records

The full Senate has given its approval to what would be the most substantial income tax cut in the history of Oklahoma. Senate Bill 2022, authored by Sen. Scott Pruitt seeks to lower the rate from 6.25 percent to 4.9 percent. He said the measure would be a great victory for Oklahomans that would allow them to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.
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State Senator Constance N. Johnson says the African-American Centennial Plaza to be built at the State Capitol will reflect and honor Oklahoma’s rich African American history.

On Tuesday, the full Senate passed Senate Bill 1919, co-authored by Johnson, (D-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Jabar Shumate, (D- Tulsa), which expresses the Senate’s support for the creation of the plaza.

The bill now goes before the House for consideration.

The plaza will be built on grounds south of the State Capitol and will be completed in May 2007.

The Senate voted Tuesday to establish clear, fair guidelines for determining if a convicted murderer is mentally retarded and thereby ineligible to receive the death penalty. Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, introduced Senate Bill 1807 at the request of Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, is a co-author of the bill.

State Senator David Myers is once again working to ensure that more governmental entities have access to the Sex Offender Registry. The legislator is author of Senate Bill 1707 which will require that the Registry be provided to the state Commissioner of Health for distribution. The measure passed unanimously today in the Senate.
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Counties acknowledging the immense historical significance of the Ten Commandments would have the support of the Oklahoma Legislature if challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), according to legislation by Sen. James Williamson that was approved by the Senate on Monday.

State Senator David Myers is once again working to ensure that more governmental entities have access to the Sex Offender Registry. The legislator is author of Senate Bill 1707 which will require that the Registry be provided to the state Commissioner of Health for distribution. The measure passed unanimously today in the Senate.
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A measure that would have removed State Senators from the process of appointing County election board secretaries in Oklahoma died in the State Senate Monday when Republicans refused to reconsider an earlier vote on Senate Bill 1032.

All 22 Republican Senators voted against a motion by Senator Kenneth Corn to reconsider the vote on the bill, which had failed in the Senate on a 19-23 vote on March 9. Reconsideration is an often used procedure that allows a second vote on a measure.
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Teenagers with learner’s permits could soon face restrictions on cell phone use while driving. That’s the focus of legislation approved by the State Senate on Thursday. Sen. Clark Jolley is the author of Senate Bill 1542. He said it was important for new drivers to focus on the road instead of their cell phones.
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For more than half a century, artist Jim Lange has let a caricature named Mr. Voter speak on behalf of the public in the editorial cartoons of the Oklahoman. This session Lange and his creation will be in the spotlight at the State Capitol as lawmakers decide on a bill to make Mr. Voter, also known as John Q. Public, the state’s official editorial cartoon. State Sen. Todd Lamb is author of the legislation.
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Some children in Oklahoma are still not safe from sexual predators even after their attackers have been tried, convicted and served their time in prison, said Sen. Charlie Laster, author of an amendment that would prevent convicted child molesters from moving back into the home where their victims live.

“Believe it or not, there’s nothing on the books right now to prevent the perpetrator from serving his time and then going right back into the same home where the child victim lives,” said Laster, D-Shawnee. “This would fix that.”

The State Senate passed a measure today to protect Oklahoma's elderly and disabled from financial scams. Senator Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, is the author of Senate Bill 1793 which makes it a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of elderly or disabled people.
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A juvenile justice task force recommendation for a study on the facilities that house youthful offenders won't be heard in the legislature this year--that's after a House committee failed to hear the measure for the study.

The measure, House Bill 2915, was authored by Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague and Sen. Nancy Riley, R-Tulsa. Riley said there are three state-run juvenile facilities, including the Rader Center in Sand Springs which is in her district.

Constitutional Amendment Clears Senate Committee

The Oklahoma Senate Thursday overwhelmingly approved a measure by Senator Jay Paul Gumm that would protect rural Oklahoma from forced consolidation of public schools.
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State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson said Oklahomans can soon take advantage of legislation to encourage the purchase of long-term care insurance—that’s after the recent passage of a federal law authorizing such programs.

In 2004, Wilcoxson authored legislation to help Oklahomans meet their long-term care needs without being forced into poverty. Wilcoxson said the idea was to encourage more Oklahomans to plan ahead for long-term care.
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